Hand-lamp switch



L. A. MILLER.

HAND LAMP SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I5, I9 I9 Pawna'lveb. 15,1921'. @W @J @s fm1@ Daw; *M4

m UNITED STATFS PATENT OFFICE LOUIS A. MILLEm-or NEW HAVEN, CONNEG'HCUT,.AsseNon'ro wmcnns'rnn VJeuIPEA'rINGI ARMS COMPANY, or NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A coRPoRA- TION OF CONNECTICUT.

electric lights of the type whereinbatteries and a lamp are contained in a suitable case, with switch mechanism conveniently positioned on the case to permit control of the current from the battery through the lamp.

With hand lamps of this general character, the batteries have often been ruined by accidental closing of the switcher Contact device when the lamp was carried in a tool kit, or in a trunk, or where pressure might be lapplied to the pushbutton of the switch without the knowledge ofthe user.

It is an object of' the present invention to provide a contact device having a flexible contact member with a push button by which the member may be manually actuated to fiash the lamp, but with means movable over said push button to prevent accidental pressure thereon when lighting of the lamp is to ,be avoided. In the advantageous embodiment hereinafter described. the movable member which acts as a guard for the button can also be used for holding the button depressed when a continuous light isv desired.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description, which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the hand lamp and its switch;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged planof the switch mechanism;

Figs. 3 and 4 are longitudinal sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of 2, and show the push button in its normal or open-circuit position;

mFigs. 5 and 6 correspond with Figs. 3 and 4, excepting that the thumb-piece has been moved forward to override and permanently depress the push button;

- Figs. 7 and 8 correspond with Figs. 3 and HAND-LAMP SWITCH.

v y specification ofteaersratent. Patented Feu 15, 1921'. Application filed November 15, 1919. Serial No. 338,202. i

4, excepting that the thumb-piece has been pushed still farther forward to release the push button, for which the thumb-piece then serves asa housing; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

In the embodiment illustrated, the hand lamp comprises a series of two or more dry cells 1 placed end to end with the naked bottom of the lowermostfcell resting on a coiled spring 2 which is carried by a metal cap threadeditov a collar 4e. This collar is in electrical connection with a conductor 5. the upper end of which is secured to the switch mechanism as by a rivet 6.

The tube 7, in which the batteries are housed, may be of fiber or likeinsulating material, and carries yat its front end a threaded collar 8, a lens 9, a lens-holding ring 10, and a reiiector 11. The incandescent' lamp 12 has its inner terminal in electrical connection with the center or carbon electrode 13 of the topmost dry cell, and its outer or threaded terminal connected, as through reflector 11,with a conductor 14, leading to a rivet .15 or equivalent lug serviceable as one contact ymember of the switch mechanism. Preferably, the conductor 14 and the outer terminal of the lamp are insulated from rings 8 and 10 to prevent inadvertent lighting of the lamp when laid on a metal surface.

The contact.y mechanism illustrated more iny detail in Figs. 2 to 9 comprises an escutcheon 16, carrying a housing y17, which may be integral therewith. Within this housing is a contact element in the form of a spring finger 18, secured at one end to the housing, as by means of a hollow rivet 19, and carrying at its other end a push button 2O by which the contact member may be manually operated to flash the lamp in usual manner. Housing 17 is provided with relatively long slots 21 and 22 to serve as guideways for the outwardly clenched tangs 23, 24 (Fig. 9) of a hollow thumb-actuated member 25. This member is shaped at its front end to form a pocket 26 so that when the member is pushed forward by thumb pressure, it will overrun button 20 and thereby depress the button and hold it in closedcircuit position. A shoulder 27 tends to limit forward movement of member 25. However, if lighting of the lamp is to be avoided, as when the hand lamp is paclted away in a tool kit, member 25 can be pushed farther forward until its shoulder 2T slips over button to the position shown in Fig. 7. Push button 20, being thus released, swings out to open-circuit position and is housed within and guarded by the sliding member 25.

lt is advantageous to form a projection 28 on the rear, flat part of the sliding member, for in the normal position shown in Fig. 3, this projection will be received in the opening of rivet 19 and will serve to prevent a too easy forward movement oi the member. And, similarly, in the position shown in Fig. 7, this projection may be received in a corresponding depression in the housing, and will serve to prevent a. too easy backward movement of the sliding member.

To accentuate this lockingetlect in these two liositions, prefer that the sliding inember shall rest on runners havingtheir front edges beveled or rounded ott, as shown in Fig. 9. These runners, on reaching the ends of their respective slots, ride up, and so tilt the sliding' member from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. l, or the opposite position shown in Fig. 8. This rocking,r movement has a tendency to flex the top 'face of housing' 1T so that projection 2S enters the depressions on the forward and backward limits of its 'slidingl movement with rather more snap than would otherwise be the ease.

I claim l. A contact device for a battery hand lamp having a push button manually operable to flash the lamp, and a member for holding` said push button in depressed position when desired, said member also being adapted to serve as a housing for said push button when lighting of the lamp to be avoided.

2. A contact device for a battery hand lamp, having a push button manually operable to flash the lamp, and a member adapted to slide forward and overrun the button when a continuous light is desired, and also adapted to serve as a housing for said push button when lighting of the lamp is to be avoided.

A contact device for a battery hand lamp having' a push button manually operable to flash the lamp, and a thumb-piece adapted to slide forward and depress said button when a continuous light is desired, .said thumb-piece being movable forward still farther until it releases the button; substantially as described.

el. i contact device for a battery hand lamp comprising a housing, a. ilexibc contact member secured at one end to said housing` and hrm/*ingat its other end a push but.- ton manually operable to flash the lamp, and a hollow thumb-piece adapted to slide alongr said housing and overrun said button when continuous light is desired, said thumbpiece being,` movable still larther to release the button and serve as a housing therefor when liglitiin;` of the lamp is to be t 7oided.

5. A contact device for a battery hand lamp comprising a housing, aspring linger therein having;- one end fastened to the housing,l and havinggat the other end a push button manually operable to flash the lamp. and a hollow thumb-piece movable along Lquide-ways in said housing and adapted to overrun and depress said button when a continuous light is desired, and movable stillK farther to release the button and to serve as a housing therefor when lighting,r o1 the lamp is to be avoided.

G. it contact device for a battery hand lamp comprising a` housing, a spring member attached at one end to said housing and carrying` at its other end a push button manually operable to flash the lamp, and a thumb-actua ed member slidable forward to erve as a housing` for said push button when lighting ot the lamp is to be avoided.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

LOUIS A. MILLER. 

